Using the Azure Cloud Shell window

This document explains how to use the Cloud Shell window.

Swap between Bash and PowerShell environments

Use the environment selector in the Cloud Shell toolbar to switch between Bash and PowerShell environments.

Select environment

Restart Cloud Shell

Select the restart icon in the Cloud Shell toolbar to reset machine state.

Restart Cloud Shell

Warning

Restarting Cloud Shell resets machine state and any files not persisted in your Azure fileshare are lost.

Change the text size

Select the settings icon on the top left of the window, then hover over the Text size option and select your desired text size. Your selection is persisted across sessions.

Text size

Change the font

Select the settings icon on the top left of the window, then hover over the Font option and select your desired font. Your selection is persisted across sessions.

Font

Upload and download files

Select the upload/download files icon on the top left of the window, then select Upload or Download.

Upload/download files

  • For uploading files, use the pop-up to browse to the file on your local computer, select the desired file, and select the Open button. The file is uploaded into the /home/user directory.
  • For downloading file, enter the fully qualified file path into the pop-up window. For example, the path under the /home/user directory that shows up by default. Then, select the Download button.

Note

File and path names are case sensitive in Cloud Shell. Double check your casing in your file path.

Open another Cloud Shell window

Cloud Shell enables multiple concurrent sessions across browser tabs by allowing each session to exist as a separate process. If exiting a session, be sure to exit from each session window as each process runs independently although they run on the same machine. Select the open new session icon on the top left of the window. A new tab opens with another session connected to the existing container.

Open new session

Cloud Shell editor

Refer to the Using the Azure Cloud Shell editor page.

Web preview

Select the web preview icon on the top left of the window, select Configure, specify the desired port to open.

Web preview

Select either Open port to only open the port, or Open and browse to open the port and preview the port in a new tab.

Configure port

To preview an open port in a new tab, select the web preview icon on the top left of the window then select Preview port.

To close the open port, select the web preview icon on the top left of the window the select Close port.

Preview/close port

Minimize & maximize Cloud Shell window

Select the minimize icon on the top right of the window to hide it. Select the Cloud Shell icon again to unhide. Select the maximize icon to set window to max height. To restore window to previous size, select restore.

Minimize or maximize the window

Copy and paste

  • Windows: Ctrl-C to copy is supported but use Shift-Insert to paste.
    • FireFox and Internet Explorer may not support clipboard permissions properly.
  • macOS: Cmd-C to copy and Cmd-V to paste.
  • Linux: CTRL-C to copy and CTRL-SHIFT-V to paste.

Note

If no text is selected when you type Ctrl-C, Cloud Shell sends the Ctrl C character to the shell. This could terminate the currently running command.

Resize Cloud Shell window

Drag the top edge of the toolbar up or down to resize the Cloud Shell window.

Scrolling text display

Scroll with your mouse or touchpad to move terminal text.

Exit command

The exit command terminates the active session. Cloud Shell also terminates your session after 20 minutes without interaction.